FLORIDA — A series of alligator attacks in Florida resulted in one death and two injuries, including one minor, according to officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

An adult woman swimming in the Econlockhatchee River near the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest was bitten by an alligator and sustained serious injuries. The woman was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The commission and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of this attack. Multiple agencies and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper responded to the site, and efforts to trap the involved alligator remain ongoing. The Seminole County Fire Department stated that officials responded to an alligator attack in Seminole County on a Sunday afternoon, adding that the woman was swimming with a group of friends in the Little Big Econ River at Bar Street Trailhead in Geneva and was transported to a nearby hospital as a trauma alert.

In Marion County, an alligator attack occurred in the Rainbow River. The Marion County Sheriff's Office stated that deputies reported a snorkeler was bitten, leading to the closure of the Rainbow River on June 21. The sheriff's office described the closure in a Facebook post as an effort to assist the commission in locating the involved alligator. The commission located the alligator involved in the Rainbow River incident, and the river reopened afterward.

The commission also received a report of a juvenile bitten in the hand by an alligator while fishing from shore at Nelson Fish Camp, also in Marion County. The unidentified juvenile victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. A law enforcement officer removed and killed an 8-foot, 7-inch alligator following that incident.

The commission extended its sympathies, stating, "The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time." The agency urged residents to keep a safe distance from alligators and to avoid feeding them. The commission also advises contacting professionals if an alligator is spotted in a populated area. The Nuisance Alligator Hotline number is 866-392-4286.

Alligator courtship begins in early April, and mating typically occurs in May and June. During this mating period, alligators tend to be more active and may travel outside their usual habitats in search of mates. Alligators are found in all 67 counties in Florida, with an estimated population of about 1.3 million. The commission stated that alligators are most active between dusk and dawn. The agency advises swimming only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and keeping pets on a leash and 10 feet away from the water's edge because pets can resemble an alligator's natural prey. The commission stated that when fed, alligators can overcome their natural wariness and learn to associate people with food.